Remotely controlled lighting system and controller switch for operation on same

• US 20050253538A1
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Lighting Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Lighting Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Shah, Suresh, Pastemak, Barton A., Pandya, Dipesh M.
• Application Number:
  US11/092,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253538A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/362
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system for controlling lighting environment, comprising a lighting fixture, a control switch coupled to the fixture, and a communications link between the control switch and a user interface, wherein a user can control a light intensity of a lighting fixture via commands entered into the user interface.

Claims

1. A system for controlling lighting environment, comprising:

a lighting fixture having multiple light intensity levels;

a control switch coupled to said fixture; and

a communications link between said control switch and a user interface;

wherein a user can control the light intensity level of said lighting fixture via commands entered into said user interface.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control switch further comprises:

means for receiving control commands; and

means for distributing said control commands to said lighting fixture.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for receiving control commands include an infrared receiver.

4. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for receiving control commands include a radio frequency (RF) receiver.

5. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said control switch further comprises a transmitter.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control switch is coupled to a motion sensor.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control switch further comprises a photoelectric sensor for sensing the level of ambient lighting.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises:

a graphical user interface (GUI) to a web service.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communications link comprises:

a client based web service for providing a GUI interface to a user, wherein said user inputs control information;

a server based Network Operations Center, wherein said control information provided to said web service is used to generate a control signal capable of transmission;

a transmission module for sending said control signal;

a transceiver for receiving said control signal and distributing said control signal to said control switch.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said transmission module comprises a wireless service provider for transmitting said control signal in wireless format.

16. The system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

a transmitter;

a wherein said transceiver receives identifying signals from said transmitter to indicate the location of said transmitter.

11. The system as set forth in 10, wherein said transmission is via cellular transmission.

12. The system as set forth in 10, wherein said transmission is via a pager network.

13. The system as set forth in 10, wherein said transmission is via Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM).

14. The system as set forth in 10, wherein said transmission is via General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).

15. The system as set forth in 10, wherein said transmission is via wireless air interface standard (1XRTT).

17. A control switch for controlling a lighting fixture, wherein said control switch is coupled to said lighting fixture, said control switch comprising:

a RF receiver capable of receiving a control signal via an RF transmission.

18. The control switch as set forth in 17, wherein the control switch further comprises an infrared (IR) port for receiving an infrared control signal.

19. The control switch as set forth in 17, wherein the control switch further comprises a memory module.

20. The control switch as set forth in 17, wherein the control switch further comprises a processor.

21. The control switch as set forth in 17, wherein the control switch is coupled to a light sensor.

22. The control switch as set forth in 17, wherein the control switch is coupled to a motion sensor.